The Man in the Trunk (1942)

The discovery of a skeleton in a swamp enables the district attorney to convict petty-crook Ed Mygatt (Douglas Fowley)of the ten-year-old murder of Jim Cheevers (Raymond Walburn). Dick Burke (George Holmes), Mygatt's lawyer, tries to uncover new evidence in an effort to prove Mygatt's innocence. At an auction, he is outbid for Cheever's trunk by dancer Peggy LaRue (Lynne Roberts. Dick follows her home, and when the trunk is opened, he discovers a skeleton and a hat with the murdered man's initials. But the police ignore the evidence, claiming it is a publicity stunt for Peggy. But suddenly, from the trunk emerges Cheever's ghost, a gay old fellow who can't be seen or heard but uses his wits to communicate with the outside world. This changes everything.